House of Sky and Breath

Back at her apartment, Bryce breaks down before Hunt about now being her father’s “chattel” (622). The Autumn King could marry her off to Cormac that very night and she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. Bryce gets an idea for a way out of her engagement with Cormac.

Back at the mind-bridge, Ruhn is curt with Day. She asks him if he is still angry and apologizes for her harsh words. Mollified, Ruhn asks Day what makes a great leader. She answers the ability to listen and stand up for the rights of the voiceless. Ruhn wants to know this as he has been thinking who will be the right people to lead Midgard after the Asteri are overthrown. By Day’s definition, it cannot be his father. But Ruhn doesn’t feel qualified to lead either. The ice between Ruhn and Day cracks and he jokes that Day will have to buy him a beer. Day says she will when she comes to visit him. She is not joking. Day will meet Ruhn at the masque ball on the Autumnal Equinox. They will seek each other out through the names Day and Night.